By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday August 3, 2024
Sebastian Korda handed hometown favorite Frances Tiafoe a straight sets defeat to reach the Citi Open final.
Photo Source: Ben Solomon/ Mubadala DC Citi Open
Stormy skies finally gave way on Saturday night in the nation’s capital, but there was a stormy quality to the tennis of Sebastian Korda that prevailed.
The smooth-striking 24-year-old smashed his way past Frances Tiafoe in front of an enthusiastic crowd, earning a 6-4, 6-4 triumph that made father-son history for the American and his dad, former Grand Slam champion Petr.
Korda and his father are now the only father-son duo to reach the final in Citi Open history. Petr won the tournament in 1992, and also played the final in 1991 and 1997.
Sebastian, who reached his 8th ATP final and his first at the 500 level, would like to join him as a former champion.
“It's pretty cool. I used to come here when I was like 14, 15," he told reporters after his win. "This is definitely one of my favorite tournaments. I love coming here. I have a pretty great connection to the city.
“Just to play here is pretty special. To play my first final here, it's going to be pretty cool. Hopefully I can put my name up there along with my dad's.”
Korda remembers coming to the Citi Open as a kid, when his dad was coaching Radek Stepanek, the former World No.8 who also triumphed in D.C.
“I have a lot of history with this tournament,” Korda said. “Used to do the whole kind of U.S. swing with him. This was always the first stop of the U.S. swing. Just tried to ball boy on court for him whenever he needed me during practice. It's pretty special to be able to finally play this tournament.”
Korda was relentless against Tiafoe, stretching his personal winning streak against his compatriot to three and improving to 3-3 overall against him.
“You have to tip your cap sometimes,” Tiafoe said. “Seb played incredible tonight. Returned really well, served really well. I didn't really have many chances on his serve at all. He just put me under constant pressure. It was really tough for me tonight.”
Tiafoe, a native of the D.C. area, has made no secret of his desire to win in D.C. one day. He broke through this year, reaching his first semifinal after landing two consecutive quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023.
“Obviously it's tough. But it was a great week.”
Korda will bid to become the first American champion at the Citi Open since Andy Roddick in 2007.
He will face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, who defeated Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
The Italian is now up to 33 in the live rankings and he was able to get past Shelton thanks to a brilliant baseline game that featured spot-on passing shots and deft movement.
Shelton didn’t help his own cause by double-faulting on set point in the second set. He fell behind in the third and could never catch up.
Cobolli saved five match points in his round of 16 clash with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He is bidding for his maiden ATP title this week.
“I think this is my week. A little bit lucky,” he said. “I don't know, I just play my game every match. I think you have to believe in yourself always. I did. I'm here, so I'm happy.”